Here’s the latest I can share based on recent coverage up to 2026:
- There is no official release date for The Winds of Winter as of 2026. George R.R. Martin has repeatedly mentioned the manuscript is not yet ready, with updates over the years emphasizing ongoing work rather than a firm timetable.[5][9]
- In fan and media circles, there have been ongoing rumors and speculative posts about progress and publishing alerts, but none have been confirmed by Martin or his publisher, so they should be treated as rumors rather than solid news.[2][4]
- The Winds of Winter remains the next installment in the A Song of Ice and Fire saga, with Martin indicating the book will push further north in the story and feature more of the Others, according to his public statements and interviews cited in outlets covering the series’ development.[6][5]
Illustrative snapshot:
- Timeline perspective: 2010s–2020s public statements from Martin discuss ongoing drafting rather than a near-term release; no publisher date has been announced to date.[9][10]
- Public interest remains high, driven by anticipation and adjacent projects (e.g., the Jon Snow show), but no definitive publication milestone for Winds of Winter has been disclosed.[2][5]
Would you like a quick, annotated digest of the major public statements George RR Martin has made about Winds of Winter over the years, with dates and sources? I can also pull the latest credible opinions from fan sites and major tech/entertainment outlets to give you a sense of current sentiment.[5][9]
Sources
This page is about the episode. For other uses, see: The Winds of Winter (disambiguation) "The Winds of Winter" is the tenth and final episode of the sixth season of Game of Thrones. It is the sixtieth episode of the series overall. It premiered on June 26, 2016 on HBO. It was written by David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, and directed by Miguel Sapochnik. Cersei faces a day of reckoning. Daenerys antes up for the 'Great Game.' Jaime Lannister and Bronn arrive at the Twins to celebrate their...
gameofthrones.fandom.comI was heartbroken when CoNZealand was forced to go virtual due to the pandemic and I had to cancel my plans (exciting plans) for a long trip down to Wellington with Parris and my minions… but there is definitely a silver lining in that cloud. The last thing I need right now is a long interruption that might cost me all the momentum I have built up. I can always visit Wellington next year, when I hope that both Covid-19 and THE WINDS OF WINTER will be done. … Anyway, it seems to be easing off...
georgerrmartin.comYour complete guide to The Winds of Winter, the next book in George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire series
www.gamesradar.comThe Winds of Winter is the forthcoming sixth novel in the award-winning epic fantasy series A Song of Ice and Fire by George R. R. Martin. It will take place after the concurrent fourth and fifth books in the series, A Feast for Crows (2005) and A Dance with Dragons (2011).
awoiaf.westeros.org